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Each year, she heads over to the Prince of Peace Catholic Church with important tax papers in hand and spends time with an AARP volunteer who prepares and submits her return at no charge.

"I've been doing this at least 10 years. I'm very pleased with the service," said Trevithick, a gray-haired widow from Ormond Beach. "They are all very helpful, willing volunteers who give their time, patience and knowledge."

Smiling, she added: "Oh, and did I say it's free?"

The AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Program, started nationally in 1968, provides IRS trained and certified volunteers at about 20 locations throughout Volusia and Flagler counties on specific days and times until the April 15 filing deadline. Another program sponsored by the IRS's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) is overseen locally by the United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties and offers the same free service at 16 sites in the two counties.

Inside a rear building at the Ormond Beach church Wednesday morning, eight men and women prepared taxes in two rooms, helping a steady stream of mostly retirees who had either made appointments or simply walked in.

"We average more than 50 a day. We get people who live off Social Security to those who have investments in the hundreds of thousands. But lower- to middle-class people are the norm," said Al Heffner, the local site coordinator and a volunteer AARP tax counselor for 15 years. "Most of the people, a good 75 percent, are returnees for years."

He said the AARP program accepts people of all ages and incomes, as long as a tax return is not too complicated, free of time-consuming issues such as rental property or depreciating equipment. The United Way-run program specifically is aimed at helping individuals and families of low to moderate incomes.

Bob Solomon, a retired private accountant who worked for decades in Daytona Beach, called both the AARP and United Way programs a "good option for a lot of seniors."

"They are trained for simple returns. They can knock them out fast," said Solomon, who is not affiliated with either program. "But if they run into a problem, people have to go elsewhere."

Solomon said he never considered the free tax-preparation services competition, adding that most accountants "don't want those little returns."

Shelia Jackson, the United Way's Campaign for Working Families program coordinator the last three years, said the local VITA-sponsored program she oversees will prepare about 3,000 returns this year, up about 500 from 2012.

"It grows more and more each year," he said of the number of returns done. "What we're trying to do is keep people from going to predator lenders, or pay at places where they don't get all their money back. There are no fees."

John Holcomb, a volunteer tax consultant, helped establish the local program nine years ago, after hearing about VITA in other parts of the country.

"It seemed like a good thing to do for this community," he said. "The IRS had determined that $10 million in the area for earned income tax credits had not been claimed."

Holcomb said 23 volunteers at three locations in Volusia County provided the tax service that first year. This year more than 120 certified volunteers — people of different ages and working backgrounds — are helping retirees and economically challenged families at 16 sites in two counties.

"It's a perfect fit. The people appreciate it and the volunteers want to help," said Holcomb, a retired accounting and finance professional. "It is rewarding. Each of us does hundreds of tax returns. Obviously it's nice when they get a big return."

Holcomb has done tax returns at South Daytona's Piggotte Community Center since February. This year for the first time, both the United Way and AARP have joined forces at a site, splitting daytime and evening shifts on Thursdays.

"It's our first joint effort. I'd like to see more of it," he said. "It makes sense, since we can serve more people."

David and Jean Allen, retirees in their late 60s from Daytona Beach, spent about an hour with Holcomb earlier this week, hoping to find a way to lessen the tax blow.

"You keep good records," Holcomb said, going through a mileage log listing trips to doctors and the pharmacy — all deductible. "You don't want to give the IRS more than you need to."

But still, the Allens ended up owing money to cover a retirement account distribution, no fault of Holcomb's.

"This saves us a little chunk of money," said Jean Allen, who spent $128 on their return last year at a big box store. "He (Holcomb) was very polite and helpful, and took his time. Last year, it was rush, rush, rush."

Richard Ladd, 78, a semi-retired civil engineer, oversees one of the three AARP program's districts in Volusia County — the New Smyrna Beach area.

"Most of the people who come in are retired. But we don't even check ages," he said. "We can cover about 90 percent of the returns."

Ladd, a volunteer for 11 years, said the tax service is rewarding in very different ways for both preparers and participants.

"Most people are so happy someone out there is willing to do this, and do it correctly," he said. "And we save them money, maybe $200 to $500 on a return. That's why I volunteer."

<p>Alice Trevithick knows there are few good deals when it comes to the world of income taxes. </p><p>But in that system of take, she found a place that gives. </p><p>Each year, she heads over to the Prince of Peace Catholic Church with important tax papers in hand and spends time with an AARP volunteer who prepares and submits her return at no charge. </p><p>"I've been doing this at least 10 years. I'm very pleased with the service," said Trevithick, a gray-haired widow from Ormond Beach. "They are all very helpful, willing volunteers who give their time, patience and knowledge." </p><p>Smiling, she added: "Oh, and did I say it's free?" </p><p>The AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Program, started nationally in 1968, provides IRS trained and certified volunteers at about 20 locations throughout Volusia and Flagler counties on specific days and times until the April 15 filing deadline. Another program sponsored by the IRS's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) is overseen locally by the United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties and offers the same free service at 16 sites in the two counties. </p><p>Inside a rear building at the Ormond Beach church Wednesday morning, eight men and women prepared taxes in two rooms, helping a steady stream of mostly retirees who had either made appointments or simply walked in. </p><p>"We average more than 50 a day. We get people who live off Social Security to those who have investments in the hundreds of thousands. But lower- to middle-class people are the norm," said Al Heffner, the local site coordinator and a volunteer AARP tax counselor for 15 years. "Most of the people, a good 75 percent, are returnees for years." </p><p>He said the AARP program accepts people of all ages and incomes, as long as a tax return is not too complicated, free of time-consuming issues such as rental property or depreciating equipment. The United Way-run program specifically is aimed at helping individuals and families of low to moderate incomes. </p><p>Bob Solomon, a retired private accountant who worked for decades in Daytona Beach, called both the AARP and United Way programs a "good option for a lot of seniors." </p><p>"They are trained for simple returns. They can knock them out fast," said Solomon, who is not affiliated with either program. "But if they run into a problem, people have to go elsewhere." </p><p>Solomon said he never considered the free tax-preparation services competition, adding that most accountants "don't want those little returns." </p><p>Shelia Jackson, the United Way's Campaign for Working Families program coordinator the last three years, said the local VITA-sponsored program she oversees will prepare about 3,000 returns this year, up about 500 from 2012. </p><p>"It grows more and more each year," he said of the number of returns done. "What we're trying to do is keep people from going to predator lenders, or pay at places where they don't get all their money back. There are no fees." </p><p>John Holcomb, a volunteer tax consultant, helped establish the local program nine years ago, after hearing about VITA in other parts of the country. </p><p>"It seemed like a good thing to do for this community," he said. "The IRS had determined that $10 million in the area for earned income tax credits had not been claimed." </p><p>Holcomb said 23 volunteers at three locations in Volusia County provided the tax service that first year. This year more than 120 certified volunteers &mdash; people of different ages and working backgrounds &mdash; are helping retirees and economically challenged families at 16 sites in two counties. </p><p>"It's a perfect fit. The people appreciate it and the volunteers want to help," said Holcomb, a retired accounting and finance professional. "It is rewarding. Each of us does hundreds of tax returns. Obviously it's nice when they get a big return." </p><p>Holcomb has done tax returns at South Daytona's Piggotte Community Center since February. This year for the first time, both the United Way and AARP have joined forces at a site, splitting daytime and evening shifts on Thursdays. </p><p>"It's our first joint effort. I'd like to see more of it," he said. "It makes sense, since we can serve more people." </p><p>David and Jean Allen, retirees in their late 60s from Daytona Beach, spent about an hour with Holcomb earlier this week, hoping to find a way to lessen the tax blow. </p><p>"You keep good records," Holcomb said, going through a mileage log listing trips to doctors and the pharmacy &mdash; all deductible. "You don't want to give the IRS more than you need to." </p><p>But still, the Allens ended up owing money to cover a retirement account distribution, no fault of Holcomb's. </p><p>"This saves us a little chunk of money," said Jean Allen, who spent $128 on their return last year at a big box store. "He (Holcomb) was very polite and helpful, and took his time. Last year, it was rush, rush, rush." </p><p>Richard Ladd, 78, a semi-retired civil engineer, oversees one of the three AARP program's districts in Volusia County &mdash; the New Smyrna Beach area. </p><p>"Most of the people who come in are retired. But we don't even check ages," he said. "We can cover about 90 percent of the returns." </p><p>Ladd, a volunteer for 11 years, said the tax service is rewarding in very different ways for both preparers and participants. </p><p>"Most people are so happy someone out there is willing to do this, and do it correctly," he said. "And we save them money, maybe $200 to $500 on a return. That's why I volunteer."</p>